Matthews Hit: Leafs Rally, Fans Demand Suspension

For the NHL, it's March 13th. Here's what's happening.

In Thursday night's game, Toronto Maple Leafs Captain Austin Matthews took a knee-on- knee hit

from Anaheim Ducks' defenseman and Captain Radco Goudus. With under five minutes left in the second

period, Goudus earned a five minute major penalty and game is conduct. Matthews left the ice

in pain and did not return, but the Leafs still won five to three. The hit happened as Matthews

waited in the slot for a pass from William Nylander. Goudus skated in hard, colliding knee to knee,

which sent Matthews down clutching his leg. Officials quickly stepped in, but there was no

immediate pushback from Matthews' teammates. Fans lit up social media with strong reactions,

calling the played dirty and pointing to Goudus' history of tough hits, like one on Sydney

Crosby in the Olympics. Many demanded a long suspension, frustrated that no one confronted Goudus

right away. Meanwhile, the Leafs channeled their energy in the third period. They scored twice

on the power play and got physical, with Ricky Easton Cowan dropping the gloves for his first

national hockey league fight against. A Ducks' defenseman, the response fired up supporters,

who praised the team's late push as payback for their captain. No update yet on Matthews' injury,

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